Rice is grass~

[lancy]

Rice is not very common in North America, but it’s main food source in China. Farmers harvest in fall, and the stems and leavs are usuanlly left for nothing. That could be, at leat a part of, rabbits’  food. One problem may be pesticide, luckily, I know a acre of land where organic rice is planted. The farmer is one of my fellows, who promised to keep some clean leaves for me, oh, for Fluffy.

 

[Sage Cat]

Actually Texas grows lots of rice. The most popular strain grown there is called Tex-matti.
What a beautiful rice patty that photo is.

[Deleted User]

Lancy, this is very interesting. Very cool you can get some for your bunny. I tried to find some info about its nutrient composition but most articles I found discuss rice bran. I am curious what it looks like as hay, can you post a photo when you get some?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

NEAT!!! THat’s a great pic Yes please do post a pic when you get some

[luvmybunny]

That is really cool….I didn’t know that and learned something new today!

[jerseygirl]

Lancy did post a link in another thread that had packaged rice straw (see below).  He was concerned about the grain heads though.  I would guess the grass hay is softer than this straw.  Hopefully the grass your friend supplies Lancy is better.  Be interesting to learn of it’s nutritional value.  I wonder if Hong Kong House Rabbit Society has any info on Rice Grass hay?

[lancy]

Sage Cat, thank you for sharing the infroamtion! i’m curious about the ways you cook rice.  is that the same as Chinese people do ?
Petz and Jerseygirl, what i’am worry about is the high contents of silicon. in fact, it’s partly due to the selective breeding that people prefer the varieties which are not easily be lodged. and this charecteristic is related to the silicon. i got some, purple colored rice, for decoration last year. Fluffy seemed love it. rice are not traditional hay, so i’m still looking for reference. until now. my pure guessing is, rice leaves are less nutrient ( lower in protein and starch contents ) than of other hays. but, before evrything is clear, i would just introduce in very small ammount and keep my eyes open.
Kokaneeandkahlua, bunnymum and everybody, here is pic:  the purple rice in the field. i visited there in this summer. 

 

[jerseygirl]

That’s pretty much what I’ve read too Lancy. Low protein, high fibre but high in silica. It apparently wears molars of cattle too much. Maybe not so bad for rabbits but the other main issue is it’s not very palatable. We all know how fussy rabbits can be!

[lancy]

Fluffy did eat leaves, but was more interested in stealing grains
oh, a good news is the orchard grass i odered yesterday has come, and Fluffy is crazy about it! thanks! jerseygirl, for recommendation.

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